Today I am speaking with Laura E. Reagan.
Hi Laura! Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit with us. The readers would love to hear something about Laura E. Reagan.
Why don’t you begin by telling us something about what you are working on at this time?
The sequel to IF YOU ONLY KNEW will be released in May 2006. It picks up where IYOK leaves off and deals with one of the most popular characters in the book, Neville Hilliard. Fans of IYOK have been begging for a book about him and I have to admit, the sequel is even funnier than the first book.
Also, I have a contemporary romance/thriller in the works. Opposites attract when a burned-out Chicago homicide detective ends up spending his much needed vacation playing bodyguard to a pampered Hollywood actress. After his best friend and old partner loses his life needlessly, life becomes too real for Chicago homicide detective Mitch Talbott. In an effort to distant himself from having to feel anything, Mitch heads to Beverly Hills to pay a surprise visit to his sister, Sue, a psychiatrist to the stars.
But Tinsel Town has been rocked as one of Sue’s patients; young actress Serena Vaughn has just survived a brutal attack. Mitch finds himself embroiled not only in the search for the attacker, but hired to protect Miss Vaughn. If Mitch wanted to escape life becoming too real, he couldn’t have found a better place. Here, in Serena’s world, everything is make-believe; even her much reported love life. If he can sort through all the bullshit, he might stand a chance at saving her life…if he doesn’t kill her first.
What is your favorite genre to write when you are composing?
Historical, contemporary, anything. Nothing is safe.
Did you always wish to be a writer?
Yes. I have always said if I can make a living writing, something I love, I’ll never work a day in my life.
Do you have a hectic schedule that prohibits you from writing more than you would like?
More like sporadically hectic. Some days I can concentrate on what I need to be doing and other days it is impossible. I live on a horse farm and there’s always something that needs to be done. And believe it or not, horses can tell time.
What would your readers be surprised to know about you?
Probably my involvement with the Civil War community. I love Civil War Reenactments and attend them as a civilian if I am able to. As a civilian, I get to dress in all the period garments. I’ve been a member of the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable for years and served on their Board of Directors. I have also been involved with Civil War Living History/ Reenactment Event Coordinating and Planning. So far, I’ve been involved with planning the reenactments at Fort Dickerson in Knoxville, The Siege of Knoxville 2002, and The 140th Battle of Franklin 2004. This year I was lucky enough to have met H. K. Edgerton, a hero of mine.
What do you like most about your writing?
The incredible rush I get when a character steps up, takes the pen, and crafts the next line.
Do you start from scratch when writing or do you have an outline already started before you start your stories?
I start from scratch. The outline comes gradually and I try to get it down on paper as soon as possible.
What advice would you have for those just starting out writing?
As cliché as it sounds, don’t ever give up. I always found it funny that at Fred Astaire’s first audition, his rejection went something along the lines of, “Well, he can’t sing. He can’t act. Oh, he can dance a little.” Stop and think what would have happened if Fred Astaire had given up. So, don’t ever give up. Don’t ever let someone else tell you that you don’t have what it takes. That’s your dream, not theirs. Maybe they’re the ones who don’t have it in them to dream anymore, but they don’t have any right to dim your dreams.
Do you get along well with your publisher and editors?
Doesn’t everyone? I must be blessed and doubly blessed. Bob Gelinas with ArcheBooks Publishing is so helpful and so approachable. Ralph Wolfe is a dream to work with and is so patient. My editor is Vicki DuBois, a romance writer under the pen name Victoria Dark. She’s been there. She knows the ropes. She has a wicked reader’s eye. We get along famously. I’m very lucky. She even knows who Blackadder is.
Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share?
IF YOU ONLY DARE, the sequel to IF YOU ONLY KNEW will be released in May 2006. IF YOU ONLY DARE is the second offering to the Sweetwater Series. IF YOU ONLY DARE takes you back to Sweetwater and dumps you and your belongings at The Globe Saloon. Neville Hilliard, the saloon owner (who stole every page he appeared on in IF YOU ONLY KNEW) is back and is he having one hell of a bad day. His beer taps don't work, he's down two working girls, and just when things couldn't get any worse, he finds that the new beauty he hired is actually an innocent socialite who needs a keeper.
Do you have a website?
www.laurareagan.com
Do you have a link where anyone can buy your books that you would like to share with us?
http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Romance/IYOK/IYOKDesc.htm
Thank you so much for stopping by Laura. Anyone interested in reading more about Laura and her books, please visit her website or her publishers website to read more about her works. It has been a pleasure talking with you, Laura, and I wish you the best in your writing career.
Interviewed by: Linda
